Fascinating Facts: Surprising Truths About Nature and Culture
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Uncovering Amazing Facts
I previously ran a blog where I shared ten intriguing facts each month, which was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had while writing. Now, I’m excited to revive that series here on Medium! In this first edition, I hope these five surprising facts will amaze you as much as they did me. If you enjoy this, I plan to publish similar articles monthly.
If you want to jump ahead, the fact about beavers and vanilla is the fifth one, so feel free to check that out first if you can’t resist!
- The World’s Largest Desert Is Actually Antarctica
Photo by NOAA on Unsplash
You might be wondering about the Sahara Desert and why deserts are typically thought of as hot. Here’s the clarification: A desert is defined as a region that receives minimal precipitation. This includes both non-polar deserts (like the Sahara) and polar deserts (like Antarctica). Remarkably, over 20% of our planet consists of desert terrain!
Antarctica is the largest desert, covering an astonishing 5.5 million square miles, significantly larger than the Sahara, which spans about 3.5 million square miles. Although the Sahara is expansive, it pales in comparison to Antarctica.
- Newborns Cry, Yet They Don’t Produce Tears
Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash
Some parents may already know this, but as someone without kids, I was surprised to discover that newborns don’t actually produce tears! This isn't due to a lack of effort since babies are known for their loud cries.
Newborns lack fully developed lacrimal glands (the glands responsible for tear production). Even when these glands start functioning around two weeks after birth, they only produce enough tears to keep the eyes moist. Studies indicate that a baby might be one to three months old before shedding actual tears!
- Elephants Can Be Left-Handed or Right-Handed Too
Photo by Mylon Ollila on Unsplash
I’ve always been fascinated by elephants, and it seems there’s always something new to learn about them. Just like humans, who can be right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous, elephants also show a preference for one side of their trunk.
Interestingly, the distribution of left and right preferences is more balanced among elephants than it is among humans. While only about 10% of people are left-handed, approximately 50% of elephants have a side preference. This preference typically develops around three months of age!
- Yoda and Miss Piggy Share a Voice Actor
Photo by Nadir sYzYgY on Unsplash
Believe it or not, the voice of Yoda was provided by the same actor behind Miss Piggy! Frank Oz is the talented voice actor responsible for both characters, along with various others, including Bert, Grover, and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.
His extensive career in voice acting is truly remarkable. I’m always intrigued by the voices behind animated characters. For instance, did you know that Michael Cera voiced the eldest Berenstain Bear?
- Some Vanilla Flavoring Comes From Beaver Secretions
Photo by Jennie Brown on Unsplash
Let’s clarify this surprising fact. While it may sound alarming, no beavers are harmed in the production of vanilla flavoring. Beavers possess glands known as castor sacs, located near their... well, rear ends. These glands release a brown, sticky substance called “castoreum.”
As noted in a National Geographic article, beavers use this substance for territorial marking. Interestingly, castoreum has a pleasant aroma and has been used as a food additive for nearly a century, often labeled simply as “natural flavoring” on ingredient lists. Thankfully, the FDA deems it “generally recognized as safe.”
Thank you for reading! I enjoyed compiling these facts for you. I’d love to know which one surprised you the most—personally, the beaver fact was the most shocking for me!
The first video titled "Is there beaver anal juice in vanilla? Castoreum - what's in our food?" dives into the origins of castoreum and its use in the food industry.
The second video titled "Is there beaver butt juice in your vanilla flavoring?" explores the surprising facts about this unique ingredient in flavoring.